Canadian exhibitors say they'll return to Vegas
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, September 5, 2005
Las Vegas — Canadian resources showing at last month's inaugural market here gave it an enthusiastic two thumbs up, saying both traffic and order-writing by far exceeded their expectations.
"It was the best market we've ever had anywhere," said Jason Harris, national sales manager for custom upholstery house Stylus Made-to-Order Sofas.
Rick Verjee, executive vice president of full-line importer Hamilton & Spill, said, "We had a very good show, probably the best show we've ever had, not only from an attendance point of view but from an order-writing standpoint as well.
"We saw more people by the end of the first day than we saw during all of the last High Point show," he continued. "Everyone was in good spirits. It was really what the industry needed."
Similar superlatives came from Larry Klein, marketing director for Natura Sleep Products. "It was fabulous," he said. "Traffic was heavier than High Point. The buyers were excited both about the product they saw and the (World Market Center), which is a class A facility."
Executives noted they saw retailers they'd never seen before, whether in San Francisco, Tupelo or High Point. "And we wrote as many orders as we do in Toronto, which has always been our best market," said Harris of Stylus.
Canadian exhibitors generally lauded the market's organizers.
"There were a lot of questions about whether the Vegas market people could get retailers out to the show, and I think that question has been answered," said Hamilton & Spill's Vergee. "They've set the bar for all the other markets. If (the other markets) meet that standard, they'll survive. If they don't, they won't."
While it's too early to say for sure, many executives believe Las Vegas and High Point eventually will divide the continent. "I would say that, for people west of the Mississippi in the United States and in western Canada, (Las Vegas) will become the market of choice," said Natura's Klein, with those in the East probably giving higher priority to High Point.
"The other thing I can see happening is that, if I'm a buyer for an average independent furniture store, I would choose to go to Las Vegas in January and High Point in October," Klein said.
Verjee said, "For the next while, there will be more major introductions in High Point (than in Vegas) simply because manufacturers have more space to show things there. That's not likely to change until there's additional space in Las Vegas. But when that happens, we may see High Point become the premarket for Vegas."
All executives interviewed said they'd be back in Las Vegas in January. "I've already talked to a number of retailers who say they're coming back," Harris said.
